Meze 99 Neo Headphones

I freaking love these headphones. These are the Meze 99 Neos. Meze is a Romanian company that makes high-end audio products, mainly headphones. The 99 Neo line is Meze's budget-friendly variety, but they make plenty of other headphones, such as the 99 Classics, which are sort of like the Neos but made out of actual walnut wood and are a little more expensive.

While the 99 Neos are plastic instead of wood, they’re still worth checking out. For example, every pair of Mezes is 100% repairable. If you ever need to get new ear cups or replace a screw, you can find the parts directly from Meze.

The headband is something to write home about—it won’t snap like cheap plastic headphones. This headband is soft and stretches according to your head size, so basically one size fits all. Other than the ear cups and headband, the whole thing is made of metal, so it won’t disintegrate back into oil within 20 years. These headphones were made to last, and considering these are the “cheap ones,” I think that’s really impressive. I was a little disappointed that the 99 Neos were made in China and not in Romania like their more flagship models—I guess that’s what makes them “budget-friendly.”

Let’s talk about the box. First of all, it smells like a new pair of shoes in there—and it’s amazing. Second, it’s just beautiful. Not as minimalist as Apple, but it doesn’t have to be. It tells me exactly what I’m getting, and that’s all that’s necessary. Lastly, you don’t have to rip it open—it uses magnets to keep it closed. What a nice touch. And of course, we can’t forget about the free stickers!

I also love how the Neos come with a detachable audio cable, which is great for owners of evil cats who enjoy chewing on any exposed wires. You can even choose which side to listen from, because the audio cable is split for both the left and right ear cups.

The Neos also come with a hard-shell case, which is great for stuffing into a backpack or suitcase. The case includes a little pouch where you can store your cables.

Like most headphones, these use dynamic drivers to produce sound. Some of Meze’s high-end models use planar technology, which is a whole article in itself

I also want to give a shout-out to DankPods for introducing me to Meze headphones. I had no idea that headphones could be so special until I saw his YouTube reviews.